Pinot Nero 2005
Climate
The weather in autumn 2004 was quite mild with much heavier rain than in recent years. The unusually cold winter caused a delay in foliage development while the period around flowering was mild and quite dry, resulting in good fruit-setting. In July maximum temperatures reached 35° C which accelerated veraison, while a mild August with frequent but light rain-showers resulted in slow, steady ripening. The Pinot Nero grapes were harvested in mid-September in perfect condition thanks to the almost total absence of rain in August. The grapes showed an excellent balance of sugars and polyphenolic substances.
Vinification
The grapes were harvested in vineyards at an altitude of 400m in the Castello della Sala estate near Orvieto, in Umbria. After destemming and partial crushing, the grapes were placed in stainless steel vats. Maceration lasted about a week, during which great care was taken to fully extract the colouring substances. Alcoholic fermentation was completed at 26°C in French oak barriques (Alliers, Troncais), as well as malolactic fermentation. The wine aged in the barriques for 8 months, after which it was bottled. It was then aged in the bottles for 15 months in the historical cellars of Castello della Sala, before release.
Tasting Notes
Hints of cherries and spices, balanced and elegant in Burgundy style.
The Wine
The first vintage to be produced was the 1990 vintage. The wine is made entirely with Pinot Nero grapes and is considered Cervaro’s alter ego: together they represent the two different expressions of Castello della Sala’s complex and refined spirit. Four hectares (10 acres) of Pinot Nero vineyards sit at an altitude of 400 meters (1312 feet) above sea level on calcareous soils rich in fossils with sedimentary sands from the Pliocene epoch.
A red amidst whites
At Castello della Sala, an area historically important for white wines, Pinot Nero offers an authentic and typical expression of its variety with a strong territorial character.
Winding vineyards
The 4 hectares (10 acres) of Pinot Nero grow along the hillsides shaping the landscape into a series of sinuous terraced vineyards.
Understanding nature
The particularly hot climate of Castello della Sala has forced agronomists to invent new ways to protect the grapes from the hot summer sun. The vines’ shoots are allowed to grow in length and are then folded over the plant so its leaves can shade the Pinot Nero grape clusters.
Climate
The beginning of the 2021 growing season was marked by cold temperatures that extended the vines’ dormant period and delayed budbreak by about two weeks compared to seasonal averages. The month of May saw little rainfall and cool temperatures while summer brought sunny skies and good temperature swings between day and night providing the vines with the right conditions to make up for lost time. Beautiful weather continued for the entire period of the grape harvest giving vineyard crews time to patiently and systematically pick the best clusters to obtain the finest expression of Pinot Nero berries. Harvesting operations began the first week of September with healthy, fully ripened grapes that presented optimal freshness and an excellent aromatic profile.
Vinification
After destemming and gentle crushing, the grapes were transferred into small stainless steel truncated cone tanks where cold maceration was performed over a period of three days. Alcoholic fermentation followed at a controlled temperature of 26 °C (78.8 °F) and lasted for about one week and was then completed in 228-liter barriques where the wine underwent malolactic fermentation and continued to age for several months. Pinot Nero della Sala aged in the bottle in the castle’s historical cellar for an additional period before being released for sale.
Historical Data
The ten acres (four hectares) of Pinot Noir grapes at the Castello della Sala estate are situated at an altitude of over 1300 feet (400 meters) above sea level on calcareous soils rich in marine fossils which alternate with strata of sedimentary sands from the Pliocene epoch. The wine was first produced in 1990. Castello della Sala is a fortress erected in the 14th century located approximately ten miles (18 kilometers) from the city of Orvieto and was acquired by the Antinori family in 1940.
Tasting Notes
Pinot Nero della Sala 2021 is a translucent ruby red color with light garnet hues. The nose expresses a delicate bouquet with notes of raspberries, red currants, wild strawberries that follow over to slight sensations of pink pepper. The palate is harmonious, supple with fine tannins: a wine that is pleasantly mellow while at the same time surprisingly complex. The finish is fresh, savory defined by excellent persistence.
Castello della Sala
Castello della Sala is located in the Umbria region, not far from the Tuscan border, about 18 kilometers from the historic city of Orvieto. The Medieval castle’s property extends over an area of 600 hectares (1482 acres), 229 hectares (495 acres) are planted with vineyards at an altitude that varies between 220 and 470 meters above sea level (722/1541 feet) on the gently rolling hillsides that characterize the beautiful countryside in this area. Castello della Sala is the perfect place for growing white varieties. The vines grow in clay and calcareous based soils, rich in fossil shells, and they are well exposed to the rising of the sun with an excellent difference of temperature between day and night. The one exception to the rule is Pinot Noir, the only red variety that has found in this area ideal growing conditions to best express its full potential.
Soil
Calcareous soil with fossils and sedimentary sand dating back to the Pliocene period.
Antinori Estates
Estates in Italy
